Frank V. Webster

“ Leave my office at once! How dare you address me in that manner?"
"I dare because I'm right," replied Roy coolly. "You can't bluff me, Mr. Annister. I see through your game. I now demand that you pay back all the money you have retained, or I shall make a complaint against you."
The bold and fearless bearing of the boy had its effect on the real estate agent. He saw he had to deal with a lad, who, if he had had no previous business experience, was capable of looking after his own interests. ”

“ Baker presenting Roy to the three men in turn. "He can tell you all you want to know about ranch life," for, by skillful questioning Mr. Baker had learned more about Roy than the lad was aware he had told.
"That's good," remarked Jerome Hynard. "I may decide to buy a ranch, some day."
"Would you say it was a healthy sort of life?" asked Dennison Tupper, who was quite pale, and looked as if he had some illness.
"It was very healthy out where I was," answered Roy.
"I guess one look at you proves that," put in Mr. Baker, in an admiring tone. "You seem as strong and hardy as a young ox." ”

“ Roy did, much to his own amusement.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Hynard suddenly. "I'll bet you five dollars I can do it this time, Baker."
"Very well, I'll go you."
The money was put up, the shells shifted, and Hynard made his choice. He got the right shell.
"There's where I lose five dollars," said Mr. Baker, with regret, passing the bill to Hynard.
"You try him," whispered Tupper to Roy. "You can guess right every time. Bet him ten dollars. You can't make money easier." ”

“ There's no danger. I do it a hundred times a day."
"You'll have to excuse me the next time," said Roy, with a smile as he got out. "I don't exactly cotton to elevators anyhow, but when they drop you like a steer falling over a cliff, why it'll be walk the stairs for mine, after this. It sure will."
"Guess you're from out West, ain't you?"
"That's what I am, and it's a mighty good place. Say, that trip sure made me dizzy."
Indeed there is a curious feeling about being dropped twenty stories in a swift elevator, and Roy might well be excused for his sensation. ”

“ I'll round-up this Caleb Annister for you, rope him and put the branding iron on, if I find he's trying to get any of our mavericks into his herd."
"That's the way to talk!" exclaimed Mr. Bradner. "You're a regular westerner, Roy. Don't let the ways of city folks bother you. Do the best you know how, be polite to the ladies, respectful to the men, and don't let 'em bluff you! Stick up for your rights, and don't be afraid of anybody. They may try to stampede you in New York, but you keep your head, and you'll come out all right." ”

“ You're a sport!" exclaimed Tupper, with easy familiarity. "I sized you up for a sport as soon as I saw you. I must have met you in New York."
"Yes, I make my headquarters there," said the salesman. "I seem to remember you. Sporting life is very attractive to me, I assure you, really it is."
"That's the way to talk!" put in Hynard. "Be a sport!"
"They're flattering him for some purpose," thought Roy. "I wonder what their object is."
He was hidden around the corner of the depot, where he could hear without being seen.
"That's a very fine watch chain you have on," said Mr. Baker. ”

“ Boy drive steers now, Low Bull take smoke and think. Low Bull much tired."
"I guess he was born that way," thought Roy, as he saw the redman start to make a cigarette, a habit he had learned from the white cowboys. Low Bull was soon smoking in peace and comfort, while he let his pony amble along at its own sweet will. The Indian gave no further thought to the cattle, leaving the management of the stragglers to Roy, and the lad had to dash here and there on his nimble pony, shouting and waving his lariat, to keep the lagging steers up with the rest of the herd. ”

“ The animal, which was more frightened than vicious, began to calm down.
"I've got him!" exclaimed the policeman, coming up and taking hold of the bridle.
"Oh, he's all right now; aren't you, old fellow?" spoke Roy, as he rubbed the horse's muzzle.
Indeed the animal did seem to be. His dangerous hoofs were still, and, though he trembled a bit, he was quieting down.
"That was a fine catch, my lad," remarked one man. "Where did you learn to stop runaway horses?"
"Out on my father's ranch in Colorado. This is nothing. We have a runaway every day out there. I've often caught 'em." ”

“ Don't collect a crowd," spoke the bluecoat gruffly. He was a little bit ashamed that he had not made an attempt to stop the horse, but it was due more to thoughtlessness than to actual fear. Besides, he first considered getting the women out of harm's way.
"It was a brave act," went on the man. "I'd like to shake hands with you, young man."
He extended his hand which Roy, blushing at the praise, accepted.
"Here, I want to get in on that," exclaimed another man, and soon as many as could crowd around Roy were shaking hands with him, while murmurs of admiration were heard on all sides. ”

“ Roy had watched the men playing cards, and, to his mind they showed altogether too much skill. They acted more like regular gamblers than like persons playing to pass away an idle hour. He was at once suspicious.
"No, thank you," he said. "I never play cards, for love or money."
Something seemed to annoy at least three of the men, and they looked at Mr. Baker.
"Why I thought you said—" began Tupper, winking at the man who had first made Roy's acquaintance.
"Dry up!" exclaimed Hynard. "That's all right," he added quickly to the boy. "We don't want any one to play against his will. ”

“ You don't know Chicago, or you wouldn't say that. Chicago has New York beaten any way you look at it."
"Then I reckon you're from Chicago, stranger," put in Roy, who had the easy and familiar manners which life in the west breeds.
"I am, and I don't believe I'm far wrong when I say you're from off a ranch."
"I am," admitted Roy, wondering how the stranger had guessed so soon.
"Well, there's no use getting into a dispute over our respective cities," went on the stranger. "Everyone thinks his home town is the best. Are you two traveling far?" ”

“ We've done pretty well, and if Low Bull would have done his share, we'd be nearer the ranch than we are now. I don't want any better round-up men than Nesting Henderson and the rest, but we need another man, and that's why I had to take Low Bull along. But I'll know better next time."
"Never mind, Billy. I'll see if I can't keep him on the go," said Roy, and, with a ringing shout, to hurry up some lagging steers, he touched his horse lightly with the spurs, and dashed toward where the Indian was making a half-hearted effort to keep his division of the drive from straggling. ”

“ Do you think you can get him, and take him, say to some nearby town, or even some place in New York and keep him there for two weeks? But I must insist that no harm comes to him."
With all his swindling schemes, Mr. Annister would not go too far.
"Sure we can do it," replied Phelan Baker. "That's easy. What do we get for it?"
"If you get him away, and keep him out of sight for two weeks all will be well, and I will pay you a thousand dollars."
"Good enough! We'll do it. Now who is this boy you want taken away?"
"Roy Bradner."
"What? Roy Bradner, the boy from Triple O ranch?" ”

“ Besides a steer rarely attacks a man on a horse.
So Roy rode through the long night. About one o'clock he stopped, built a little grease-wood fire, and warmed his bacon. Then he munched that and the bread with a good appetite, drinking some coffee the cook had given him in a flask.
"I ought to get to the ranch by sun-up," thought the boy, and he was not mistaken, for, when the golden ball peeped up over the prairies Roy saw the outbuildings of his father's big cattle farm. A little later he had ridden up to the ranch house, and dismounted. ”

“ Roy Bradner was the only son of James Bradner, who owned a large ranch, near the town of Painted Stone, in Colorado. The boy's mother was dead, and he had lived with his father on the ranch ever since he was a baby.
Spending much of his time in the open air, Roy had become almost as strong and sturdy as a man, and in some respects he could do the work of one.
He was quite expert in managing horses, even steeds that had never known a saddle, and at throwing the lariat, or lasso, few on the ranch could beat him. ”

“ I'm going to get up, and you and I are going to have a tussel! I guess I haven't roped wild steers, and ridden bucking broncos, for nothing!"
He threw off the covers, noting for the first time that he was fully dressed. But, as he attempted to approach Mr. Wakely a dizziness overcame him, and he sank back, trembling on the bed.
"You see I am right," went on the plotter with an evil smile. "You had better stay where you are."
It seemed to Roy as if all his strength had left him. He had never felt so weak before, save once, when he was recovering from a severe fever. ”

“ In a short time Roy saw made before his eyes, where there had been only seats before, a comfortable "bunk" with pillows, white sheets, blankets, curtains hanging down in front and all complete.
"Now youh can turn in," said the porter with a smile, as he began to make up another berth. Roy decided to wait a while, until he saw how other men travelers undressed, and when he saw one man retire behind the curtains, and, sitting on the edge of his berth, take off his shoes, and the heavier parts of his clothing, Roy did likewise. Thus the difficult problem of getting to bed was solved. ”

“ Roy glanced at him, and was inclined to smile at the elaborate costume of the youth, for the western lad had the usual cattleman's contempt for fashionable clothes, arguing (not always rightly) that a person who paid so much attention to dress could not amount to a great deal.
The young man stood leaning against the side of the depot, carelessly swinging his cane. Roy could see he had a valuable watch chain across his vest, and, in his tie there sparkled what was presumably a diamond.
As Roy watched he saw Baker and his three cronies approach the "dude." ”